Mask Mondays : Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal Face Mask

Today I am reviewing the Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal Face Mask.
I bought this product after reviewing many reviews raving about how good it was
and I wanted to see what the hype was about. I was on the look out for an inexpensive charcoal mask to help cleanse my skin. Charcoal masks are very good for detoxifying the face, cleansing pores and clearing away dirt. Priced at £3.59 this product is excellent if you're on a budget like me, the only down side is that it is only a 50ml tube however it's usually on  a 3 for 2 offer so you can make the most of it.







The formula is a very dark grey, almost black colour as you would expect being charcoal. I found I had to use quite a bit to properly layer it on my face, however it's down to preference you could use a thin layer if you wanted, but I tend to feel I get more out of the products benefits if I am abit heavy handed with it!

The mask tightens a little and is drying but not overly so. It is recommended to leave it on for a maximum of 15 minutes but I feel like because its not overly drying I can leave it on longer whilst I watch a YouTube video or something, when you notice it cracking I would take it off.

The product has definitely helped to smooth out my skin, once washing it off my face felt clean and fresh. My blackheads are worse around my chin area and I did notice a reduction but not as great as I expected, however it made more effect in other areas such as my nose and forehead which I am pleased about.

I am happy with this product, it does what it says on the tin and it is great for oily/blemish prone skin. I feel it is the kind of product you need to use regularly to see a big change.

Overall this mask is a nice treat for your face when in need of a deep cleanse, it's very affordable and for a boots own brand it has good results.

I would recommend!

Skincare Diaries

Dear Readers,

Today I have decided to start a skincare diary to record how I care for my skin on a daily basis, I will talk about my routine and what products like I use, some new products and some old favorites that I feel are a good staple to have.

I have acne/blemish prone skin, everyday feels like a battle with a skin as I try better to understand what it likes and dislikes. My skin has been breaking out a fair bit recently, I get spots, blackheads, whiteheads and pimples, these aren't pleasant and they do really affect my confidence sometimes.I don't like to wear makeup often as it isn't great for my skin so covering up with excessive amounts of concealer on a daily basis isn't something I want to do.

I have tried many products and methods for calming the affects of acne and some are more effective than others but there is no miracle cure and expensive products aren't always the most effective. I am a poor student on a budget and try to make a saving when I can.

Now, blemishes are caused by a build up of bacteria on the skin, the bacteria will hide in your pores and often get trapped resulting in nasty blackheads. I have learnt that anything that is anti-bacterial is your friend, and at the moment tea tree oil and lemon juice are my best friends. Tea tree oil is great for fighting bacteria and can be purchased in a variety of different ways, pure tea tree oil is great to use but it has to be diluted, I keep a mixture of water and tea tree oil in a dispensing pump bottle and use it as a cleanser every morning/night to wash my face. As for lemon juice, I like to slice a fresh lemon and with my water bottle infuser place two slices inside and fill with water, refiling throughout the day, lemon is another good anti-bacterial, the acidic acid helps break down bacteria and is great for the skins complexion.


Going back to the title of this post 'Skincare Diaries' I am going to journal my skincare routine, talk about what I do, what products I use, new breakouts and how my skin is generally feeling

Today I am using four products to wash, cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise my skin

1. Garnier Pure Active Micellar Cleansing Water 
2. Boots Botanics Purifying Face Scrub All Bright
3. Simple Spotless Skin Triple Action Face Wash
4. Simple Spotless Skin Anti-Blemish Moisturiser

I feel like micellar water has been everywhere this year and has really grown in popularity encouraging many brands to start using it. This special water is targeted at removing makeup whilst cleansing and purifying the skin. For me it is a product I will use for just about everything, I fin it great for taking my makeup off, but I especially like to use it as a morning/night cleanser after washing my face I apply it using a cotton pad and tab around my face, I like it as you don't have to rinse it off so I feel like leaving it on my face I am constantly benefiting from it.

Once I've cleansed, I then exfoliate with the Boots Botanics Purifying Face Scrub All Bright, this smells and feels really nice on my face, it uses crushed apricot seeds to scrub away impurities, I make sure to massage into my skin, taking care around delicate areas and concentrating on areas I feel need more attention, which at the moment is my chin as that is where most of my breakouts occur.

I feel then wash this off using warm water, once all the product is gone off my face I will then wash my face with the Simple Spotless Skin Triple Action Face Wash, this is a new product I have introduce to my routine, after being a fan of the Simple Spotless Skin Anti-Blemish Moisturiser for so long I decided to try it in combination with the face wash to see if this would enhance the benefits. I am a massive fan of Simple products, they are a brand I have used for many years, as my skin changes from being dry, oily and sensitive some products have chemicals that can be irritable, I have always from Simple great if I know my skin needs cleaning and moisurising but I just don't know how other products my affect it, the Simple range has been a staple in my skincare collection.

I liked using the face wash, it was easy to use, it felt a little like a gentle scrub as it felt like it had little beeds in it, which were great for targeting my pores, but having already used the face scrub I feel in future I would not use both at the same time. 

The moisturiser is great for my skin, I love! it doesn't irritate my skin and it is very absorbent, I like to use it on days I go to the gym. I don't notice results from day one but I interested to try use the face wash with the moisturiser over time to see results.

Once my skincare routine is done I will try find the energy to leave my cosy bed and face the day. If I am going to the gym I will make sure to wash my face afterwards, usually with a splash of water and micellar cleansing water and then reapply my moisturiser.

Thank you for reading, 

Anndrea

Mask Monday: Origin Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

Hello Beauties


Today's post is going to talk about Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask which I received in the BBB Origins Mix & Mask Box and I have to say I am in love with everything!

I have dry/blemish prone skin and this mask is a lovely intense moisture boost for my skin. It is very much the type of product where a little goes a long way, as it is not the full size product I am using it sparingly but I feel I am using the right a mount, if you apply too much it does tend to feel a little greasy so only a little is needed. 

I applied this after cleansing and using a hot cloth on my face as to work with a clean base and open my pores. It smells and feels amazing! Which makes it feel like a luxury, this is my second time using the mask and I do believe my skin has benefited well from it and is left feeling very soft and smooth after use. 

My skin drinks up this mask, it is absorbent but not too much, it feels very hydrating and pleasant on my skin whilst going to sleep. Although it is a night mask you can use it if you are staying in and want something to hydrate your skin, I think being asleep is good for the mask as you don't come in to contact with bacteria or pollution as you would if you were outside, and also you aren't touching your face and removing the product, so I like to put it on just before bed. 

 

The only down side to this product would have to be the price at £24.99 from Boots, it is abit pricey however it I do genuinely believe is it worth it if you suffer from dry/dehydrated skin or simply enjoy face masks and want a luxury pamper every now and again. A little really goes a long way with this product which means it should last a long time so an investment of £24.99 is not to bad.

Overall really enjoy using this product and incorporating it into my skincare routine. 

Let me know if you've tried it and what you thought below, or if you've tried any other face masks!